Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation from the ministry of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (India), presented by Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD, in accordance with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law.

The pope appointed Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (India), Bishop John Barwa, SVD, now Bishop of Rourkela.

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The Holy Father has elevated the Apostolic Prefecture of Likouala (Republic of the Congo) to the rank of a diocese, with the name of Impfondo and with the same spatial configuration.

Moreover, the Pope appointed the first Bishop of Impfondo (Republic of the Congo), Rev. P.Jean Gardin, CSSp., Current Prefect Apostolic of Likouala.

Rev.do P.Jean Gardin, CSSp.Rev.do P.Jean Gardin, CSSp., Was born October 28, 1941 in Saint-Pois, France, Diocese of Coutances.After primary and secondary studies, he entered the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, uttering his perpetual vows in 1969 and becoming a priest on 29 June of that year.After ordination carried out the following tasks: 1969-1970: he received his Bachelor of Divinity at the 'Institut Catholique in Paris, 1970-1995: Missionary to the Congo-Brazzaville.He worked at the Catholic Missions of Ewo and Mossaka, "missions along the river, in the Diocese of Owando, then, in the region of Likouala missionary belonging to the Diocese at the time of Ouesso, 1995-2000: back in France has become Superior of the Community of the PP.Spiritan the region west of Rennes, and the Managing Director of missionary Poullart-des-Places, 2000: First is the new Prefect of the Apostolic Prefecture of Likouala.

StatisticsThe Prefecture Apostolic of Likouala was born on October 30, 2000, following the division of the Diocese of Ouesso, and is entrusted to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (PP Spiritan).The Apostolic Prefecture has an area of 66,044 sq. km. and a population of 167,000 inhabitants.In the vast territory located north-east of the Congolese nation, there are just over 45,000 Catholics (ca. 27%).In the area there are 8 parishes, led by eight priests ( a diocesan and 7 Fidei Donum ), 5 Spiritan missionaries, 8 lay brothers.The Religious are 16 and 5 major seminarians.The main church of the Prefecture is dedicated to the "Blessed Virgin Mary."Now, the Apostolic Prefecture of Likouala is elevated to the rank of dioceses with the new name of Impfondo (nom. lat. Impfonden / sis).

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The Holy Father has appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Owando (Republic of the Congo) on Rev.do Abagna Victor Mossa, the clergy of Owando, currently engaged in the pastoral care of the Congolese in Namur, Belgium.

Rev.do Abagna Victor MossaThe Rev.do Abagna Victor Mossa was born June 18, 1946 at Makoua, not far from Owando, in northern Republic of Congo.After attending St. Pius X Minor Seminary of Makoua for primary and secondary studies, he joined the Major Seminary of Brazzaville where he attended courses in Philosophy and Theology.Completed the curriculum, was ordained priest in Owando December 29, 1974.After ordination carried out the following tasks: 1975-1977: Vicar and Parish Gamboma degree in Letters.In addition, he taught high school French Salvator Allende 's Makoua, 1977-1979: Professor of the Minor Seminary of St. Pius X Makoua; 1979-1986: Director of that St. Pius X Minor Seminary of Makoua; 1986-1992: Vicar General of the Diocese of Owando, 1992-1997: appointed parish priest of the parish of St.Jean Marie Vianney Ewo; 1997-1999: appointed parish priest of the parish of Boundji; since 1999, sent to Namur (Belgium), where he is chaplain of the Hospital Administrator of the parish and the Sacré-Coeur et St Charles, Les Vedrin Comognes.

CNN REPORT -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down Friday and handed over power to the military, his nearly three decades of iron rule ended by a groundswell of popular protests that began January 25.

In a somber one-minute announcement on state television, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced Mubarak's resignation and said the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will "run the affairs of the country."

As Suleiman spoke, deafening cheers erupted among tens of thousands of Egyptians who thronged the streets of Cairo. It was a moment they had sought throughout long, often tense days of demonstrations -- some of them violent -- that demanded Mubarak's departure.

It was also a moment that many in the Arab world's powerhouse nation had not dared contemplate.

Chants of "Egypt is free!" and "God is great!" rose from the crowds, dizzy in the honeymoon of their success. Some waved Egyptian flags; others honked horns; still others set off fireworks as they savored the scene.

Two major bridges over the Nile River resembled congested parking lots, and partiers packed streets throughout Cairo. The state-run Middle East News Agency said some people had passed out from joy and others had suffered heart attacks.

"It was a sense of liberation for me, for every Egyptian," said opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei. "For the first time, Egypt has a chance to be democratic, to be free, to have a sense of dignity, of freedom. So it's amazing. It's just like something we never experienced in our lifetime."

A source with close connections to Persian Gulf government leaders said Mubarak, 82, had fled to the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, his presidency finished as abruptly as it had started in 1981, when he ascended to power after the assassination of Anwar Sadat.

The repercussions echoed far beyond Tahrir Square as the Swiss government moved Friday to freeze all assets belonging to Mubarak and his family, said Norbert Baerlocher, a spokesman for the Swiss Embassy in Washington.

By Friday night, the protesters got what they were seeking. But amid the euphoria, ElBaradei sounded a note of caution. "We have challenges ahead of us," said the Nobel laureate, who some believe could emerge as Egypt's next leader. "I think we need to not worry about retribution. Mubarak needs to go, and we need to look forward."

ASIA NEWS REPORT: Incidents against the faithful, especially in central Punjab, increasing at an alarming rate. The police and the judiciary "cover" crimes and abuses for fear of the local Muslim lords. A young man killed by his employers, and the police would not accept the father’s report.

Lahore (AsiaNews) - The situation of Christians in Punjab is becoming more critical, Fr Joseph Xavier, from Lahore tells AsiaNews. "The incidents against Christians are increasing at an alarming rate. Central Punjab is the area most affected. Over the past three years there have been over 35 incidents, and most of them have not been reported because of the influence that local landlords have in the areas, and the influence of local MPs. They hold police and judges in the palm of their hands; the roam freely after having killed or robbed. This issue requires special attention; otherwise this problem will become even more frequent. Christians are not safe, many are forced to convert to Islam to save themselves. Also, if the Ministry of minority groups is abolished, what will happen to minorities in Pakistan?".

The most recent episode involves a young man killed by his Muslim employers, who were reported to police, after public outcry, after the police dallied, reluctant to take up the case. Imran Masih, 24, a resident of Ghakkar Mandi Gujranwala, was killed by employers, who say he committed suicide. Imran Masih, married for eight months, worked as a driver for two Muslims, Bashir Ahmed Cheema and Munir Ahmed Cheema. Imran’s father, Lal, had held the job before but because of age he passed to his son.

On February 5, Imran was unable to go to work because he felt sick. The next day he went to work. It seems there was a verbal confrontation with Munir Ahmed Cheema. And immediately after Imran was attacked and killed. Munir Cheema sought the help of some friends, and Imran's body was hung from the ceiling, and his father, Lal, was told his son had killed himself.

Lal Masih received her son's body, covered in blood, and with clear signs of torture.Lal Masih toldAsiaNews: "My son was killed by these animals. Cheema and his son used to insult me every day, they said that we Christians were their slaves. They have abused my son, he responded and then they killed him. There are signs of torture on the body. " Lal Masih went to the police to complain, but the assistant sub-inspector (ASI), Zubair Cheema, refused to accept the "Fir" (First Information Report) due to Bashir Ahmed Cheema’s influence in the area. The neighbours, however, hadheard noises and voices of people who insulted Imran, and then attacked him.

Apparently the Christian residents of Nut Kallan and areas near Mandi Ghakkar have been targeted by Muslim landlords. In September 2010, a widow was forced to leave Nut Kallan, because a Muslim landowner seized her land and home.Previously, three evangelical pastors were assaulted, but no report was lodged because of the influence of the land owners of the area. In the last year two brothers who were accused of blasphemy were killed outside a courthouse. Asia Bibi is still in prison, waiting for the high court to fix the date of her appeal. Recently two women were attacked with false accusations of blasphemy.

Khalid Gill, chief coordinator of the APM (All Pakistan Minorities Alliance) together with other members of the organization blocked the Great Trunk Road near Ghakkar Mandi, to protest against the police and demand that the report be upheld, and the guilty arrested. Following the protest a police officer Shahid Rana arrived on the spot, and finally filed the report.

IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT: Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross and Bishop Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, have called for prayers for those who were killed and injured in the plane crash at Cork airport this morning:

"We express our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have lost their lives following the accident on the Belfast - Cork flight which crashed in Cork airport this morning. Our hearts also go out to those who have been injured and to all who are affected by this terrible tragedy.

"The suddenness and scale of this loss of life is shocking. We ask people of faith, North and South, to pray for those who have died and for their loved ones. We will be offering Mass and our prayers for the deceased, the injured and their families. We also commend the emergency services for their rapid response and care at this difficult time."

Bishop Buckley was in the area at the time and went directly to the airport. The Duty Manager invited Bishop Buckley to meet the relatives who were waiting in Arrivals at the airport. Bishop Buckley offered them his prayers and, indeed, the prayers of the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross and of the Country. Canon Michael Murphy, Parish Priest of Ballyphehane, as airport chaplain, was also in attendance at the scene. Bishop Treanor, along with Cardinal Seán Brady and other bishops, offered Mass in Knock this morning for the victims of this tragedy.

USCCB REPORT: Bishops of the Americas Discuss Successes, Challenges of Communicating the Gospel with Modern Social Media

BALTIMORE, Md. (February 11, 2011)— The annualmeeting of the leadership of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Council of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Latin America (Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano or CELAM), accompanied by four bishops from the four regions of Latin America and the Caribbean — thepresidents of the Conferences of Bishops of Peru, Chile and Panama, as well as the Secretary General of Brazil­ — took place in Baltimore, Maryland on February 7 - 9. The purpose of the meeting was to foster collegial bonds among the bishops of Canada, the United States and Latin America.

The theme of this 36th gathering of the Bishops of America was “Communion and Communication”. The dialogue consisted of an exchange of views on how to transmit to the modern world the Gospel message and the image of the Catholic Church made up of the faithful gathered together in Christ Jesus.

From their experiences and perspectives as Catholic bishops from different regions in the whole American continent, the participants discussed successes and challenges in communicating and living the faith as a result of the rapidly changing means of social communications. Together they shared their experiences of how the new media can serve to bring together and to expand the knowledge and personal experience of the message of Christ in a rapid and accessible manner both within the Church and in society at large. They also discussed the challenge of forming, in all members of the Church, a spirit of deepened reflection on the wide ranging contents of newly developed means of social communication, in light of the Gospel message.

TODAY'S SAINT: FEB. 11: OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Our Lady of Lourdes

Feast: February 11

Information:

Feast Day:

February 11

The pilgrimage of Lourdes is founded on the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to a poor, fourteen-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubiroux. The first apparition occurred 11 February, 1858. There were eighteen in all; the last took place 16 July, of the same year. Bernadette often fell into an ecstasy. The mysterious vision she saw in the hollow of the rock Massabielle was that of a young and beautiful lady. "Lovelier than I have ever seen" said the child. But the girl was the only one who saw the vision, although sometimes many stood there with her. Now and then the apparition spoke to the seer who also was the only one who heard the voice. Thus, she one day told her to drink of a mysterious fountain, in the grotto itself, the existence of which was unknown, and of which there was no sign, but which immediately gushed forth. On another occasion the apparition bade Bernadette go and tell the priests she wished a chapel to be built on the spot and processions to be made to the grotto. At first the clergy were incredulous. It was only four years later, in 1862, that the bishop of the diocese declared the faithful "justified in believing the reality of the apparition". A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle by M. Peyramale, the parish priest. In 1873 the great "national" French pilgrimages were inaugurated. Three years later the basilica was consecrated and the statue solemnly crowned. In 1883 the foundation stone of another church was laid, as the first was no longer large enough. It was built at the foot of the basilica and was consecrated in 1901 and called the Church of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII authorized a special office and a Mass, in commemoration of the apparition, and in 1907 Pius X extended the observance of this feast to the entire Church; it is now observed on 11 February.

Never has a sanctuary attracted such throngs. At the end of the year 1908, when the fiftieth anniversary of the apparition was celebrated, although the record really only began from 1867, 5297 pilgrimages had been registered and these had brought 4,919,000 pilgrims. Individual pilgrims are more numerous by far than those who come in groups. To their number must be added the visitors who do not come as pilgrims, but who are attracted by a religious feeling or sometimes merely by the desire to see this far-famed spot. The Company of the Chemins de Fer du Midi estimates that the Lourdes station receives over one million travellers per annum. Every nation in the world furnishes its contingent. Out of the total of pilgrimages given above, four hundred and sixty-four came from countries other than France. They are sent by the United States, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Ireland, Canada, Brazil, Bolivia, etc. The bishops lead the way. At the end of the year of the fiftieth anniversary, 2013 prelates, including 546 archbishops, 10 primates, 19 patriarchs, 69 cardinals, had made the pilgrimage to Lourdes. But more remarkable still than the crowd of pilgrims is the series of wonderful occurrences which take place under the protection of the celebrated sanctuary. Passing over spiritual cures, which more often than not escape human observance, we shall confine ourselves to bodily diseases. The writer of this article has recorded every recovery, whether partial or complete, and in the first half-century of the shrine's existence he has counted 3962. Notwithstanding very careful statistics which give the names and surnames of the patients who have recovered, the date of the cure, the name of the disease, and generally that of the physician who had charge of the case, there are inevitably doubtful or mistaken cases, attributable, as a rule, to the excited fancy of the afflicted one and which time soon dispels. But it is only right to note: first, that these unavoidable errors regard only secondary cases which have not like the others been the object of special study; it must also be noted that the number of cases is equalled and exceeded by actual cures which are not put on record. The afflicted who have recovered are not obliged to present themselves and half of them do not present themselves, at the Bureau des Constatations Médicales at Lourdes, and it is from this bureau's official reports that the list of cures is drawn up.

The estimate that about 4000 cures have been obtained at Lourdes within the first fifty years of the pilgrimage is undoubtedly considerably less than the actual number. The Bureau des Constatations stands near the shrine, and there are recorded and checked the certificates of maladies and also the certificates of cure; it is free to all physicians, whatever their nationality or religious belief. Consequently, on an average, from two to three hundred physicians annual visit this marvellous clinic. As to the nature of the diseases which are cured, nervous disorders so frequently mentioned, do not furnish even the fourteenth part of the whole; 278 have been counted, out of a total of 3962. The present writer has published the number of cases of each disease or infirmity, among them tuberculosis, tumours, sores, cancers, deafness, blindness, etc. The "Annales des Sciences Physiques", a sceptical review whose chief editor is Doctor Ch. Richet, Professor at the Medical Faculty of Paris, said in the course of a long article, apropos of this faithful study: "On reading it, unprejudiced minds cannot but be convinced that the facts stated are authentic."

TODAY'S GOSPEL: FEB. 11: MARK 8: 1- 10

Mark 8: 1 - 101In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him, and said to them,2"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat;3and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way."4And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?"5And he asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven."6And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.7And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also should be set before them.8And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.9And there were about four thousand people.10And he sent them away; and immediately he got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the district of Dalmanu'tha.